Machine for loading cans into cartons



March 20, 1956 A. P. SCHOLTZ MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 16, 1951 INVENTOR. (Irihur 7? 5c 0 EH L Li;

at 5/ a March 20, 1956 Filed 001;. 16, 1951 A. P. SCHOLTZ 2,738,630

MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. (lrthur P Scholt l'r'l March 20, 1956 A. P. scHoLTz 2,738,630

MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTONS Filed Oct. 16, 1951 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 T Z 7 FEOJ INVENTOR. (Irihur F. Schol t March 20, 1956 A. P. SCHOLTZ 2,738,630

MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTONS Filed Oct. 16, 1951 s Sheets-Sheet 4 Clr ur PScholt March 20, 1956 A. P. SCHOLTZ MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTONS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 16, 1951 INVENTOR. Orihur P Schol March 20, 1956 P. SCHOLTZ 2,738,630

MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTONS Filed Oct. 16, 1951 s Shee ts-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR.

thurPScholt BY z United States Patent MACHINE FOR LOADING CANS INTO CARTQNS Arthur P. Scholtz, Chicago, Ill., assignor to National Can Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application October 16, 1951, Serial No. 251,550

11 Claims. (Cl. 53-59) This invention relates to machines for loading cans into cartons and is particularly concerned with the load ing of cans into cartons of the type that open at the smallest end thereof.

It has been customary to pack cans in cartons each containing forty-eight cans placed in two tiers or layer s, each layer consisting of twenty-four cans arranged six cans in one direction and four cans in the other. Obviously in such a carton two opposite sides of the carton each face the ends of twenty-four cans, two other opposite sides of the carton each face the cylindrical sides of twelve cans arranged in two rows of 81X cans each, and the remaining two opposite sides of the carton face the sides of eight cans arranged in two rows of four cans in each row. The last mentioned sides of the carton are the two smallest sides thereof. In the fabrication of cartons it is customary to have two opposite sides formed by overlapped flaps. Because of the overlap the total amount of paper used for those sides is greater than the areas of those sides. It is therefore economical to construct the carton in such a mannor that the overlapped flaps are on the smallest sides I of the carton. This means that if such a carton is held with its open end facing upwardly the carton Will be of much greater depth than its length or its Width. When an attempt is made to load cans into a carton which is comparatively deep care must be taken to prevent skewing of the cans as they travel in the carton to their final positions. It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for loading cans into a carton of the above mentioned character wherein the cans drop into their position in the carton and the machine is provided with means for maintaining the cans in proper alignment as they drop to their final positions in the carton.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carton-loading machine of the above mentioned character with means for facilitating receiving the open end of the empty carton for the loading thereof, even though the flaps at the open end may be inwardly flexed to some extent as the carton is being positioned in the machine. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a carton-loading machine with means for spreading apart the open end of the carton, in the event that it requires such spreading, all preliminary to the depositing of the cans in the carton.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a carton-loading machine of the above mentioned character wherein the placing of the carton into its proper can-receiving position actuates the mechanism to discharge the required number of cans into the carton and wherein the removal of the carton from its load ing position automatically refills the discharge portion chutes, four chutes to each group, and wherein there is provided an escapement mechanism for discharging six cans at a time from each of the eight chutes at once. It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an escapement mechanism for automatically reloading each of the eight chutes with the required number of cans, in this instance six cans to each chute.

The attainment of the above and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are front elevations of the left hand end and right hand end, respectively, of a machine embodying the present invention;

Figure 3 is a right hand elevation of Figures 1 and 2' Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is an enlarged front elevational view of one of the escapement detents of the escapement;

Figure 6 is a top view of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the detent linkage;

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the funnel assembly;

Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 10 is a right hand elevational view of the funnel assembly of Figure 8; and v Figure 11 is an electric circuit diagram of the control of the machine.

Reference may now be had more particularly to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts throughout.

The machine 1 of the present invention receives cans from a can feed line 2, from which cans flow to a can divider or distributor 4, thence through a chute 5 to a second divider or distributor assembly consisting of two similar dividers or distributors 6, and thence to a can runway assembly 8. The runway assembly leads to and through an arcuate discharge section 9 to a downwardly facing discharge funnel 10, from which cans are adapted to drop by gravity, under control of an escapement mechanism 12, into a suitably placed carton. Each operation of the escapement mechanism allows the dropping of a predetermined number of cans, sufficient to fill the carton. Cans from the can feed line 2 are delivered alternately to each of two can chutes 14 and 16, each of which leads to a can divider or distributor 6, so that there are two streams of cans of the same number of cans in each stream each flowing into a divider 6. The two separate dividers of the divider assembly are located one in back of the other, the two being incorporated into one structure. For instance, a divider operating in accordance with the principles set forth in the patent to Kimball, No. 2,127,924, is satisfactory for the purpose.

The runway assembly 8 that receives cans from the divider assembly includes two similar tiers of runways 8a and 8b each receiving the cans from the respective dividers. Each tier includes four superposed inclined runways 18, 19, 20 and 21. Each runway includes a. forward and rear track 23 for supporting the cans that roll thereon and a forward and rear can guide rail 24 for confining the cans axially as they roll down the runways. The tracks 23 and the rails 24 are supported intermediate their ends by uprights 26 that are supported on an angle iron frame 28 of the machine. The tracks and guide rails of the runways extend in a generally horizontal but somewhat inclined direction for a considerable distance from the divider or distributor 6 to allow an adequate space for can storage in the machine, and then curve downwardly, as indicated at 29, and terminate at the top of the funnel 10. The escapement mechanism,

agvsapao to be more fully described, is arranged so that each operation of the escapement mechanism results in the discharge of six cans from each of the eight runways, or forty-eight cans at one time.

The escapement mechanism 12 consists of a set of can inlet detents, one for each runway, and a set of outlet or drop-off detents, one for each runway, and a linkage for interconnecting the two sets of detents. The inlet detents are indicated at 35, 36, 37 and 38 (Figs. 2, and 7). The detents are mounted in any convenient manner, at the proper location. The detents and 38 are mounted on plates 40 and 41 that are suitably secured in place, whereas the detents 36 and 37 are mounted on the same plate 43 which is suitably secured in place. Each detent consists of a link 45 (Fig. 5) that is pivoted intermediate its ends to its respective plate by a pivot 46. The link carries a finger 48 at one end thereof, which finger is movable from the full line position of Figure 5- where it is above and out of the path of movement of the cams on the trackway below it, to a dotted line position illustrated in Figure 5 where it is in the path of and therefore prevents movementof cans past it. At the opposite end of the link 45 there is a pivot pin 50 for receiving a connection with a connecting rod 51 that is connected at its opposite end with an actuating bar 52. The respective connecting rods from the links 45 of each of the four detents are connected to the actuating bar 52.

The actuating bar 52 is pivotally supported on a pair of pivoted links 54-54 and pivots 55-55. The links 5454 are of equal length and are pivoted on stationary pivots 5656 whose spacing is equal to the spacing of the pivots 55-55. The bar 52 is adapted to be rocked by a rocker shaft 58 to which it is connected by a link 59 that is pivoted to the actuating bar at one end and at its opposite end to a crank 60 keyed to the rocker shaft 58.

p The finger 48 of each detent is movable, as stated above, from a can-holding position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5 to a can-release position where the finger comes to rest above the cans moving on the runways. For that purpose each track 23 above the bottom one has a slot formed therein into which the finger 48 of the subjacent detent extends when the detent is in its can-releasing position. A short plate 66 (Fig. 6) covers the slot 65 that receives the finger 48 of the uppermost detent 38, thus limiting the counter-clockwise turning of the detent 38 and thereby limiting the movement of the actuating bar 52 in one direction.

The outlet detents of the chutes in the runway assembly 0a consist of four similar links 67 pivoted intermediate theirends on pivot pins 68 each of which extends through a hole 69 in the associated link and pivots the link on a frame member70 which is part of the stationary structure of the machine, being a part of the funnel 10, as will be more fully described. Each link has at its upper end a pin 71 for pivotally connecting it with a reciprocable actuating bar 72, and has at its lower end an inwardly extending can stop finger 74. When the link 67 is in the position illustrated in full lines in Figure 9 its can stop finger 74 is in its discharge position, that is, in a position where it is out of the path of movement of the cans and permits the cans to drop from the associated chute. When the link 67 is pivoted to its dotted line position, illustrated in Figure 9, its can stop finger 74 is brought into the path of movement of the cans and acts as a stop to hold the row of cans of the associated chute against dropping. The reciprocable actuating bar is supported by the four associated links 6 7 to which it is pivoted, and is connected by a link 77 to the same pivot rod '78 that also connects the link 59 with the inlet detent actuating part 52, as may be seen from Figure 7. This rod 78, like a similar rod 79 at the pivot between the link 77 and the bar 72, extends to "a link '77 and a bar 72' similar to the link 77 and the bar 72 but located on the opposite side of the machine. The bpp'osi'te side of the machine also has a bar 52' similar to the bar 52 and pivoted to the rod 78 as is the bar 52-,

and provided for actuating a set of inlet detents similar to the detents 3538, as may be seen in Figure 7.

The eight chutes extend into and terminate in a rectangular frame 70 (Fig. 8) that leads to the funnel 10. The frame 70 consists of similar front and rear straps or bars 80-81 joined by left and right straps or bars 82-83, which may be secured together in any desired manner as, for instance, by welding or by angle brackets 86 at the four corners.

The discharge funnel 10 is a rectangular funnel having four similar sides which are separate from one another and are independently pivoted. Each side includes a funnel guide plate, there being front and rear funnel guide plates 88a and 88b and left and right funnel guide plates 88c and 88d. Each funnel guide plate is mounted on a separate horizontal bar 90, there being four such bars in rectangular formation each located immediately below the corresponding bars $0-83 when the machine is in its delivering position as shown in Figure 9. Each funnel guide plate supporting bar 90 has a pair of lugs 91 welded or otherwise secured thereto. Each lug 91 has, at the end thereof remote from its bar 90, a boss through which extends a mounting pin 92 that is supported in a bracket 93 that is secured to the associated strap or bar 80, 81, 82 and 83, thereby supporting the pin in the funnel guide plate. Each bracket 93, in addition, is provided with means for receiving a journal bearing for supporting rocker shafts, as will be more fully set forth.

Each funnel guide plate 880 to 88d is normally urged to the dotted line position of Figure 9 by a pair of leaf springs 102 that hear at their lower ends on the associated funnel guide plate and are mounted at their upper ends on a bar 104 that is supported from the associated bar 80, 81, 82 and 83 by a pair of spacer members 106. Each funnel guide plate is adapted to be forced from its normal dotted line position of Figure 9, which is the empty box-receiving position, to its operative position illustrated in full lines in Figures 9 and 10, by a cam 108 secured to a rocker shaft, there being four such rocker shafts 109a, 109b, 1090 and 109d. Each of these rocker shafts is journalled in bearings on the two associated brackets 93 and are additionally supported by bearings on end plates 97.

The four shafts 109a, 109b, 1090 and 109d are interconnected by sets of meshing bevel gears 11 so that turning or rocking of any one of the shafts results in the corresponding turning or rocking of all of the shafts. The shafts are rocked to actuate the respective cams 108 thereon to move the funnel guide plates from their cartonreceiving position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9, to the can-discharge position illustrated in full lines in Figures 9 and 10. To bring about this rocking action the shaft 1090 has a crank arm secured thereto, which crank arm is connected to a piston rod 116 that is actuated by the piston within a double acting pneumatic cylinder 118.v The application of pneumatic pressure to one side or the other of the cylinder 118 results in the corresponding movement of the piston rod and a corresponding rocking of the shaft 1090. This produces corresponding rocking of the other shafts 109a, 10% and 109d to actuate the respective cams 108 to move the funnel guide plates to their discharge positions illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. The shaft 109s extends beyond its bevel gears on the front and rear of the machine. At each side thereof it has a crank 120 (Fig. 7) secured thereto which, through front and rear connecting rods 121-121, connects with cranks 122 keyed to the front and rear of the detent actuating rocker shaft 58 so that the rocking of the shaft 1090 results in corresponding rocking of the shaft 58 and actuation of the discharge detents 67 and the inlet detents 3538.

A series of spacer or guide plates are provided for guiding the cans as they fall from the respective chutes into the carton during the loading operation. These spacer or guide plates consist of a top pivotally mounted guide plate 125 that separates the outlets from the four from runways 18, 19, 2'0 and 21 from the outlets of the similar rear runways. Three front transverse guide plates 127--127- 127 separate the cans from the respective front runways 18, 19, 20 and 21 as they drop from the machine, and three rear transverse plates 127 similar to the plates 127, guide the cans from the similar rear runways. The guide plate 125 is suspended from a pair of aligned pins 129129 in the bars 82-83 and has a limited free rocking movement about the longitudinal axis of the two pins.

Adjacent to the top of the funnel 10, and at the rear of the machine, there is placed an electric limit switch 140 for initiating the operation of the machine, and at the bottom of the machine and substantially in line with the limit switch 140 there is provided a limit switch 141 for restoring the machine after operation.

The carton into which cans are to be loaded by the present machine may be manually lifted to its loading position and manually held in that position during loading and then lowered, or mechanical means may be provided for lifting and lowering the carton. In this instance the mechanical means consists of a platform 145 on which the empty carton may be placed and which platform is adapted to be actuated vertically between a lower cartonreceiving or discharge position and an upper carton-loading position in any desired manner, as by means of a vertically movable plunger 146 that is connected to a piston of a pneumatic cylinder, not shown. When the carton has been loaded it may be manually pushed off of the platform 145 onto a moving belt or conveyor 148 that carries the carton onward as, for instance, to the carton-sealing mechanism.

As previously stated, the machine is operated by a double acting pneumatic cylinder 118. This cylinder receives compressed air from a compressed air line 150 under control of an electromagnetically operated valve 151. The valve supplies compressed air selectively to either of two air lines 152153 for actuating the piston within the pneumatic cylinder in one direction or the other. The valve 151 iswhat is known as a two-position valve. In one position it supplies air under pressure to one of the lines 152153 and atmospheric pressure to the other line. In its alternate position it reverses this arrangement as to the lines 152-153. The valve is moved to its discharging position by a solenoid 156 and is moved to its holding position by a solenoid 157. When the machine is in use the solenoids are controlled by the limit switches 140 and 141, respectively, which are normally open. When a carton is raised to its discharge position it momentarily closes the limit switch 140. This actuates the solenoid 156. This solenoid moves the four-way valve 151 to a position for effecting discharge of the cans. At this time the carton is above the limit switch 141, having actuated that limit switch. After the carton has been filled it is lowered. As it approaches that lowered position it momentarily closes the limit switch 141. This completes a circuit for the solenoid 157 to actuate the valve 151 to its reverse position to establish pressure connections to the opposite side of the cylinder 118 to actuate the piston therein in the reverse direction to refill the discharge end of the machine, as will be more fully set forth presently.

An explanation will now be given of the mode of operation of the machine thus far described. Cans flow in a continuous stream from the can feed line 2 to the divider 4 where they are divided into two streams, alternate cans then fiowing by gravity into the chute 14 and the intervening alternate cans flowing into the chute 16, each of which leads to a separate divider or distributor 6. From each divider individual cans are delivered successively to the respective runways 18, 19, 20 and 21 where all the runways receive the same number of cans. The cans roll down the runways until they come to the discharge portion 9 thereof that leads to the funnel 10. At the bottom of the discharge portion 9 the cans are held by the stop fingers 74, one at the bottom of each can chute. At this stream side thereof.

time the fingers 65 and the inlet detents 3538 are in a position out of interference with the cans. Cans accumulate in the runway assembly from the discharge end 9 thereof past the inlet detents 35-38 towards and even up to the divider or distributor 6. At some suitable place, either at the inlet to the runway assembly 8 or at any other place spaced therefrom in a direction which is up stream with respect to the direction of the flow of cans, there is provided the usual safety mechanism which is actuated by the accumulation of cans to stop the delivery or inflow of cans from the feed line to the divider 4.

In the present instance it is desired to deliver a total of forty-eight cans to each carton, twenty-four cans coming from the runway assembly 8a and twenty-four cans coming from the runway assembly 8b. Since each runway assembly consists of four tiers it is necessary to provide six cans from each of the tiers in order to fill the carton. This is accomplished, in the present invention, by the escapement mechanism 12 wherein the fingers 48 on the respective inlet detents 35-38 are spaced from the discharge stop fingers 74 and the links 67 a distance equal to the diameter or runway extent of six cans. There are thus forty-eight cans between the eight discharge stop fingers 74 and the corresponding inlet fingers 48.

When an open ended carton is raised to position to receive cans from the machine the carton is raised until the guide plates 127127 and the guide plate extend substantially to the bottom of the carton. The guide plates are of dimensions substantially less than the dimensions of the opening of the carton so that the closure flaps of the carton, even if slightly flexed inwardly, will receive the guide plates. As the carton is raised the closure fiaps' thereof engage the funnel guide plates 88a88d and then engage the springs 102 on the outside of the flaps and are thereby spread apart. Continued elevation of the carton causes the carton to engage and actuate the limit switch 140. This closes the circuit for the solenoid 156 which actuates the valve 151 to apply air pressure to the double acting pneumatic cylinder 118 in such a direction that the piston rod 116 thereof is moved in a direction to the left as seen in Figures 2 and 7. This causes the shaft 1090 to rock in a direction counter-clockwise as seen in Figure 7, which motion is transmitted to the shafts 109a, 10% and 109d. These four shafts acting through their cams 108 spread the funnel guide plates from their dotted line positions in Figure 9 to their full line positions, there by increasing the funnel opening and spreading the carton flaps sufficiently to permit the cans from the eight tiers of cans to drop therethrough as soon as they are released. At the same time the counter-clockwise rocking of the shaft 1090 is transmitted through the link 121 and crank 122 to the rocker shaft 58 which also rocks in a counterclockwise direction. Rocking movement of the shaft in a counter-clockwise direction produces two results, namely, it moves the actuating bars 52 and the actuating bars 72 in a direction to the left as seen in Figure 7.

Movement of the actuating bars 52 to the left from the position illustrated in Figure 7 results in a rising of the actuating bar 52 about the link centers 56-56, causing an upward thrust of the connecting rods 59 and producing clockwise turning of the inlet detents 35, 37 and 38 and counter-clockwise turning of the detent 36. This clockwise turning of these detents brings the fingers 48 of each of these detents from the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 5, namely, from a position which was outside of the path of movement of the cans to a position within the path of movement of the cans. The fingers 48 now act as stops so that each holds all of the cans on the upstream side thereof against downward movement but permits downward movement of the six cans on the down- Leftward movement of the reciprocable discharge bar 72 causes the links 67 to turn in a counter-clockwise directions from the position illustrated in dotted lines in Figure 9 to the position illustrated in full lines. This moves the stop finger 74 at the bottom of eaclrlinit' 67 from the-can-stopping positiontoihe position: illustrated' in fulllines in Figure= 9} which'iis the position; permitting 1 dropping of the cans. The.- sixcans in each tierbetween-the stop fingers=74 andthe fi'ngers48 thus dropinto the=-carton and are guided by "the guide-plates 125; 127 and127. This" fills the carton' and nothing further occurs *until the carton is lowered.

When" the'carton is'loweredit fi'nally passes and momentarily'closes'the limit switch 141'. This establishes a 1090 in'thedischarge direction the holding fingers 48 at:

the inlet side of the dischargeportion 9 are moved to holding position before the discharge stop fingers 74 are released from their stop position, and upon reverse movement' of the rocker shaft 10% the discharge stop fingers 74'are movedinto their stop position before the inlet stop fingers48 are moved out of their stop position. It isthus, apparent that with each cycle ofoperation of the mechanisnrsix consecutive cans'from each of the eight rows are discharged, all'forty-eight cans d'ropping'asa group. During this operation all of the cans above-the discharge portion 9' of the mechanism are held against downward movement: chine sufficiently to actuate the limit switch 141 the mecha-- nism is restored to a position where the discharge stop fingers 74- are in' can-holding position and the inletstop fingers 48 on the detents 3538 are in their Dy-passed condition, and cans then roll by gravity past the fingers 48 until they are stopped by the fingers 74.

In compliance with the requirements of the patent statutes I have here shown and described a preferred embo'dimentof my invention. It is, however, to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction here shown, the same being merely illustrative to the principles of the invention. and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for repeatedly introducing a load of cans into a carton, means providing a series of' inclined; parallel runways terminating in a discharge region, a

carton-loading funnel in register with the discharge region of the runways and adapted to receive cans discharged from the runways simultaneously, means for continuously supplying cans to the upper ends of each of said runways for movement by gravity therealong' to said discharge region, an escapement mechanism for delivering a measured load of cans to said funnel from the runways, means for maintaining the cans from the respective runways in rows in the funnel, said escapement mechanism including a group of inlet detents, one for each runway, means connecting said detents for movement in unison from advanced positions wherein they are disposed in the path of movement of the oncoming cans in said runways to retracted positions wherein they clear the runways, a group of drop-off detents, one for each runway, and similarly movable into. and out of the paths of movement of the cans in the runways, the advanced position of the inlet detent of each runway being spaced along the runway from the advanced position of the drop-oh? tie-- tent of the runway a distance equal to the runway extent of a predetermined number of cans of which the number of cans in each load is a multiple, means operable when a carton has been moved to its can-receiving position with respect to said-funnel for simultaneously moving said After the carton is removed from the ma What I consider new series of-fdrop ofi detents;=to their: retractedpositionsand forsimultaneouslymoving said=inlet detents-to their ad-w vancedzpositions; and-means operable.duringwithdrawal of 1 said carton for simultaneously :reversing the positions of SHidLdI'OP OfiIdflIQHLS and-inlet detents respectively.

2. in, a; machine, for, repeatedly introducing; a load; of

cans into,cartot1$, means Providing a series of inclined,

parallel runways; terminating in a discharge region, a car-.

ton-loading. funnel, in; register-with the discharge region: 1 o[- the; runways; and adapted to receive; cans discharged from the runwayssimultaneously, meansfor continuously, supplying, cans to the;upp er ends of each of said runways; for. mov ment; y; grav ty h rea o ssaid i shar e; i n, res ap me mecha m; rt u es i ly. n 1

pcatedly delivering a measured load o f v cansto said funn l: from, he run-ways. m ans. or m nt in n h cans from the respective runwaysin rows-in the funnel, said;

escapementmechanism including inlet detents, one for;

each runway, and: movable-between advanced positions wherein they are disposedin the-path of movement of. theoncoming cans in, said runways and retracted positions; wherein they clear, the runways, dropoff detents, one for each r unway, and similarly movable into and out; of the. path of movement of the cans in the runways, the ad I vanced position of. the inlet detent ofeach runway being spaced along the runway from the advanced position of the-drop-ofi detent of the runway a distance equal to the runway extent of a predetermined number of cans ofwhich thenumber of cans in each load is a multiple,

, linkage mechanism. operatively. connected to said inlet and drop-oh detents for moving said detents simultaneously andwith the inlet detents assuming their advanced positionswhenthe drop-olidetents assume their retracted positions andvice versa, means operable upon movement of the carton tov its can-receiving position with respect to, said funnel for actuating said linkage mechanism in one directionand operable during withdrawal of, said carton for actuating said linkage mechanism in the other direction,

3. In a machine for introducing a load of cans into cartons, means providing a series of inclined, parallel runways terminating ina discharge region, a carton-loading funnel in register with the discharge region of the runways and, adapted to receive cans discharged from the run ways, means for continuously supplying cans to the upper ends of each of said runways for movement by gravity. therealong to said discharge region, an escapement mechanism for delivering a measured load of cans to said fun-s nel from the runways, said escapement mechanism includ ing inlet detents, one for each runway, and movable between advan ed, positions wherein they are disposed in the path of movement of the oncoming cans in said runways and retracted positions wherein they clear the. rum ways, drop-off detents, one for each runway, and similarly movable into and, out of the path of movement of thec ans in the runways, the advanced position of the inlet detent of each runway being spaced along the runwayfrom the advanced position of the drop-oif'detent of the runway a distance equal to the runway extent of a predetermined number of cans of which the number of cans in each load is a multiple, linkage mechanism operatively connected to said, inlet and drop-elf detents for moving said detents simultaneously and with the inlet detents'assuming their advanced; positions when the drop-off detents assume their retracted positions and vice versa, control means operably connected to said linkage mechanism for actuating the latter in opposite directions, areversible motor for operating said control means, means operable upon movement ofthe carton to its can-receiving position with respectto said funnel for operating the motor in one direction, and means operable during withdrawal of said carton for eausingthe motor to operate said control means in the otherdirection.

4. In a machine for repeatedly introducinga load of cans into a carton, means providinga series ofinclined, parallel runways terminating in a discharge region, a carton-loading funnel in register with the discharge region of the runways and adapted to receive cans discharged from the runways, an escapement mechanism for delivering a measured load of cans to said funnel from the runways, said escapement mechanism including a series of inlet detents, onefor each runway, and movable between advanced positions wherein they are disposed in the path of movement of the oncoming cans in said runways and retracted positions wherein they clear the runways, a series of drop-ofi detents, one for each runway, and similarly movable into and out of "the path of movement of the cans in the runways, the advanced position of the inlet detent of each runway being along the runway from I the advanced position of the drop-off detent of the runway a distance equal to the runway extent of a predetermined number of cans of which the number of cans in each load is a multiple, linkage mechanism operatively connected to said inlet and drop-off detents for moving said detents simultaneously, with the inlet detents assuming-their advanced positions when the drop-off detents assume their retracted positions and vice versa, pneumatic operating means operatively connected to said linkake mechanism for operating the latter in opposite directions, a control valve for said pneumatic means, said control valve including a movable member operable when in one position tooperate the pneumatic means in one direction and operable when in another position to etfect reverse operation of the pneumatic means, an electromagnet operable upon energization thereof to move said valve member to one position, a second electromagnet operable upon energization thereof to move said member to its other position, a normally opencircuit for each of said magnets, means operable upon movement of the carton to its can-receiving position with respect to said funnel for closing one of said circuits and means operable during withdrawal of said carton for closing the other circuit.

5. In a machine for introducing a load of cans into a carton, means providing a series of inclined, parallel runways terminating in a discharge region, a cartonloading funnel in-register with the discharge region of the runways and adapted to receive cans discharged from the runways, means carried by said funnel and movable from a retracted position to an advanced position for engaging the walls of said carton to spread the same duringloadingof the carton when the latter is in register with the funnel, an escapement mechanism for delivering a measured load of cans to said funnel from the runways, said escapement mechanism including inlet detents, one for each runway, and movable between advanced positions wherein they are disposed in the path of movement of the oncoming cans in said runways and retracted positions wherein they clear the runways, drop-01f detents, one for each runway, and similarly movable into and out of the paths of movement of the cans in the runways, the advanced position of the inlet detent of each runway being spaced along the runway from the advanced position of the drop-01f detent of the runway a distance equal to the runway extent of a predetermined number of cans of which the number of cans in each load is a multiple, means operable when the carton has been moved to its can-receiving position with respect to said funnel for simultaneously moving said series of drop-oflf detents to their retracted positions and for simultaneously moving said inlet detents to their advanced positions, means operable during withdrawal of said carton for simultaneously reversing the positions of said drop-off detents and inlet detents respectively, and means operable upon movement of said drop-off detents to their retracted position for moving said carton-spreading means to its carton-spreading position and operable upon movement of said drop-off detents to their advanced positions for retracting said carton-spreading means.

6. In a machine for repeatedly introducing a load of cans into a carton, means providing a series of inclined,

parallel runways terminating in a discharge region, a carton-loading funnel in register with the discharge region of the runways and adapted to receive cans discharged'from the runways, means carried by said funnel and movable from a retracted position to an advanced retracted positions wherein they clear the runways, dropotf detents, one for each runway, and similarly movable into and out of the paths of movement of the cans in the runways, the advanced position of the inlet detent of each runway being spaced along the runway from the advanced position of the drop-off detent of the runway 20 a distance equal to the runway extent of a predetermined number of cans of which the number of cans in each load is a multiple, linkage mechanism movable in opposite directions and operatively connected to said inlet and drop-01f detents for moving said detents simultaneously,

with the inlet detents assuming their advanced position when the drop-off detents assume their retracted position and vice versa, means operable upon movement of the carton to its can-receiving position with respect to said funnel for actuating said linkage mechanism in one direction and operable during withdrawal of said carton for actuating said linkage mechanism in the other direction, and means operatively connecting said linkage mechanism and carton-spreading means for moving the latter to its advanced position when said linkage mechanism is in the position it assumes when the carton is in its can-receiving position.

7. In a mechanism for loading cans into open ended cartons, means providing a series of runways the lower ends of which terminate in a discharge region, a cartonloading funnel in register with said discharge region for I receiving cans therefrom, means for separating the open end of the carton when in can-receiving position with respect to said funnel, an escapement mechanism for delivering measured loads of cans to said funnel from said runways and including a drop-01f detent and an inlet detentfor each runway movable alternately into canarresting and can-releasing positions respectively, a rock shaft, linkage mechanisms operatively connecting said rock shaft to each detent and to said carton-spreading means, and means for actuating said rock shaft.

8. In a mechanism for loading cans into open ended cartons, means providing a series of runways the lower ends of which terminate in a discharge region, a carton- .loading funnel in register with said discharge region for receiving cans, means for supplying cans to the upper end of said runways for movement therealong to said discharge region, a plurality of carton-spreading fingers pivotally secured to said funnel and movable in unison from retracted positions to advanced positions wherein they engage the sides of a carton in can-receiving position to spread the same outwardly, an escapement mechanism for delivering measured loads of cans to said funnel from the runways, said escapement mechanism including a :series of drop-ofi and inlet detents one for each runway, .movable between advanced positions wherein they are disposed in the path of movement of oncoming cans in .said runways and retracted positions wherein they clear the runways, a series of drop-01f detents one for each runway and similarly movable into and out of the path or movement of the cans in the runways, linkage mechanlsm operatively connected to said inlet and drop-off detents for moving said detents simultaneously, with the inlet detents assuming their advanced positions when the drop-off detents assume their retracted positions and vice t versa, linkage mechanism operatively connected to said 11 a a-. a sasiuist z ti oiaa n t a {Q31 fj l t g m. M .t ir ea sctes aisb inka emsq ms 9; tt f he a p y i i rdi i onat ndem? .w s llat m J t: osk shafti i n. a: eshanism: e ad was atq n id a ons; means r v ina a, r e f; maways h we 4. afgwh sht m aate n; e ieshar e saie warm:

. Muslin. e t r; h; ai itshara t s r cse as ucs s ivs an oflslber fram a c riesr ad n -ii eta r on sstsdq l aisi un e and oretract a admnsedrwitionh iL ids f er ettn qsp ead e ameq t r y hen he amera s in, a e. rina= n sit qn n. e cape: meat msshanism. r de ive i m asured o ds: at c n th it i u l 1 Qmt eitl nw xsa di including a enfii-dst nt a tde e tq iewh way movab!c alternately beween can arrestingand can-releasing positionsrespectively, a. can} for actuating said,carton;spre ad 9 mgvmernber, aroclr-shaft hnkage mechanisms operatively connecting eachdetcntto said rock shaft, linkage mechanism, connectin-g-saidcam to said rock shaft, and; means .11 actuating said; rock shaft.

10 In a machinefor loading cans into cartons, means providing a seriesof'inclined runways the lower ends of whichareiturneddownwardly and; terminate in a. discharge region, a carton-loading funnelin register, with said discharge region of the runways to, receive. cans. discharged fromv therunways simultaneously, means for continuously supplying cans, to theupper ends of each of said runways for movement by gravity therealong, to said discharge region, an escapement mechanism for delivering measured loads of, cans tosaid funnelfrom said runways, means for maintaining. the cans from the. respective. runways in rows in the funnel, said, escapement mechanism comprising a series of inlet detents, one for each runway, a series of drop-01f detents, one for each runway, each detent. being intheforrn ofa lever pivoted for limited oscillation about a medial axis, a can-engaging finger on one. end of each, lever the detents at each series being movable. in unison between advanced positions wherein the fingers thereon are disposed in the paths of: oncoming cans in their respective runways and retracted positions wherein the fingers clear said paths, and means for. alternately moving said: series of inlet and, drop-off detents from their advanced. positions to their retracted positions and vice versa, said m ns comprisinga thrust rod.,p iyo taily, ,cpn-

, d a" 1 if; as a lt detest" r!- taetuatingb a r pivotally, ,cpnn

a comm secondbar servingto directlyoscillate saidvdroprotf-dc: tents,

11. Ina machine for repeatedly introducinga. load of. cans. into a carton, means providing. at seriesofinclined. runways the lower ends of which terminate inadis'charge.

region, a carton-loading funnel infreg istertwiththe dis:

chargetregion of the runways, an escape'ment mechanism. for delivering measured loads of cans to saidtfunnel from. .saidrunways, said. escapernent mechanism includinga series of inlet detents, oneforteach runway, and movahle in unison between advanced ean-engagin; lv and retracted-- can-releasing positions, a series of drop-01f detents, one for each runway, and similarly movable between canengaging and can-releasing positions, linkage mechanism movable in opposite directions andoperatively connected to said inlet and drop-off detents, with the inlet detents assuming their advanced positions when the drop-off de tents assume their retracted positions andvic'e've'rsa, 'a

said valve including a member operable when in one position to supply fluid to, one end'lof the and; 'operable when in another position to sup'plyQfluid to 'the. other end of the cylinder, and an electromagnet operable under the control or the movements of the carton under going filling for controlling the moyem'entsof 'said valve, m gr y References Cited the file o f this patent TED TE mans Ra dtke APL, l,887 -,75 1 Colver Now 15,1932 2,121,924 Kimball et al. Aug, 23, 1938;

a V (esteem/ at as if: a thrust as ns-meant me ai a 9 ad yis l q ab n X qndsqmmena uate r i? l ld to f-Q hJ IQPiQfi YL i d t. rock shattcornmon to ,said actuating bars andconne cted; thereto for, imparting, respective oscillatory movements, to said bars, said first mentioned bar haying at component, ;0f, -rnption imparting. thrust to said thrust rodstooscillate, said inlet detent levers, the oscillatingmovement of said; 

